In a significant escalation of hostilities, Russia has announced the interception of more than 140 drones in its Leningrad region, located northwest of Moscow. According to Governor Aleksandr Drozdenko's statement on Telegram, this ongoing attack marks the downing of over 146 drones in the region. The source of these drones remains uncertain, but reports suggest that a Ukrainian drone struck Russia's second-largest oil refinery in Kirishi, also within the Leningrad region, on Monday. This incident reportedly resulted in a woman's death. Furthermore, a fire caused by a drone attack was reported in the port area of Ust-Luga by the Baltic Sea.
These incidents come as US-mediated peace talks between Russia and Ukraine are underway in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), entering their second and final day. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the first day of talks as "constructive and quite substantive." Meanwhile, TASS reported that Ukrainian forces fired at least 31 artillery shells on Ukraine's Moscow-occupied Donetsk region in the past 24 hours, injuring three civilians. The majority of these attacks occurred in the Horlivka area, where a couple was also wounded in a drone strike on a vehicle, according to TASS. Additionally, attacks were reported in Zelenskyy's hometown of Kryvyi Rih.
In response to the escalation, Latvia and Lithuania have warned residents to seek shelter against potential threats from unidentified drones entering their airspace via Russia or Belarus. The Baltic states have activated NATO air defence and fighter jets due to these airspace violations.